St. Louis tent collapse raises safety questions

ST. LOUIS -- A fast-moving storm ripped a large beer tent near Busch Stadium from its moorings and sent it and debris hurtling through the air, killing one person, seriously injuring several others and causing a panic among the many Cardinals fans inside.

Saturday's collapse of the tent outside Kilroy's Sports Bar near Busch Stadium, one of several that cater to spillover bar crowds before and after games, happened about 80 minutes after the St. Louis' 7-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Seventeen of the roughly 200 people who were in the tent were taken to hospitals and up to 100 others were treated at the scene. Authorities did not disclose the name of the man who was killed, or say how he died. But Eddie Roth, the director of the city's Department of Public Safety, said the man appeared to be in his 50s.

Building Commissioner Frank Oswald said Kilroy's was granted a tent permit on April 11 and it passed inspection a couple of days later. But he said the city requires tents to be able to withstand winds up to 90 mph.